The Franchi SPAS-15 is a dual-mode 12 gauge combat shotgun manufactured by the Italian company Luigi Franchi S.P.A.

Design

The weapon is based on the SPAS-12, and has similar pump-action/semi-automatic firing modes. In semi-automatic mode, a gas piston drives a bolt carrier and rotating bolt. In pump-action mode, the same components are driven by sliding the fore-end backwards. Pump-action mode is required to reliably fire low-pressure (less lethal) ammunition such as tear gas rounds or less-lethal bean bags. Switching between firing modes is done by pressing a button above the foregrip, and sliding the foregrip slightly forwards or backwards. The barrel is chrome lined and features screw-in choke tubes.

Unlike its predecessor, the SPAS-15 is fed by a detachable box magazine.

In 1994, the United States banned the importation of the SPAS-15 with close to 180 shotguns imported, but later abolished the relevant regulations.

Users

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  • : Used by Grupo Alacrán.
  • : Used by BOPE, BFEsp, Federal Highway Police and Military Police GRT unit. Small numbers were also acquired by Federal Police in 2002 but retired due to reliability issues.
  • : 2,000 acquired in 1999 by the Italian Army. Also used by the Carabinieri.
  • : Israeli special forces
  • : Portuguese Army.

Non-state users

  • Lebanese Forces

See also

  • List of shotguns

References

  • Manual
  • Franchi SPAS-15 (archive) at Modern Firearms
  • Franchi Homepage in English
  • magazine patent